Amoxycillin Clavulanic Acid Induced Hepatotoxicity.

Drug-related hepatotoxicity is a serious health problem, with broad implications for patients, healthcare providers, the pharmaceutical industry and governmental regulatory agencies. Herein we report a rare case of amoxycillinclavulanic acid combination induced liver injury of cholestatic pattern in 40 years old, well educated male patient. Patient gave history that though other drugs were given to him by his physician for fever with chills & rigors, malaise, bodyache, except amoxycillin-clavulanic acid combination all other drugs were well tolerated previously by the patient, without appearance of jaundice. So jaundice in this patient was most probably due to amoxycillinclavulanic acid combination. Though severe liver injury is rare, proper history should be taken while prescribing amoxycillin-clavulanic acid combination. Attention must be paid to potential side-effects of the drugs and close follow-up with patients is a medical necessity to evaluate adverse reactions, especially in case of amoxycillinclavulanic acid combination.

Protective Effect of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Acacia Catechu in Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hepatotoxicity.

Objective: To study the protective effect of ethyl acetate extract of Acacia catechu in carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Methods: The liver damage in albino rat was induced by a subcutaneous injection of 50%v/ v carbon tetrachloride in olive oil at the dose of 2ml/kg twice a week for 14days. The hepatoprotective activity was monitored biochemically by estimating serum transaminases, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum bilirubin and serum protein after intraperitoneal injection of ethyl acetate extract of Katha(250mg/kg). Silymarin(5mg/kg.I.P) was given as a reference drug. The histopathological changes of liver samples were compared with that of control. Results: Ethyl acetate extract of Acacia catechu inhibited carbon tetrachloride induced liver toxicity in albino rats at 250mg/kg body weight as assessed by the biochemical and histological examination. Conclusion: Ethyl acetate extract of “Katha” exhibited significant hepatoprotective activity.

Protective effect of melatonin against chlorpromazine-induced liver disease in rats

To evaluate the possible protective effect of orally administered melatonin against Chlorpromazine [CPZ]-induced liver disease in rats. We performed this study in the College of Pharmacy, University of Baghdad during the period from May to October 2004. The hepatoprotective effect of melatonin was studied through treatment of rats with single dose [10 mg Kg-1] orally, 7 days before and during the period of CPZ treatment, and 7 days after the induction of suspected hepatotoxicity. The parameters of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde [MDA] and glutathione [GSH] in liver tissue homogenate, activities of the liver aminotransferases, alanine transaminase [ALT] and aspartate transaminase [AST] in serum, in addition to serum level of bilirubin [total and conjugated] were evaluated. Liver tissue sections were examined to follow histological changes. Analysis of data showed that treatment with melatonin significantly attenuated the oxidative stress parameters as evidenced by lowering MDA levels in tissue homogenate while not affecting GSH levels. Serum activities of ALT, AST and serum bilirubin were normalized with both pre-treatment and post-treatment with melatonin. Data revealed that post-treatments with both saline and melatonin restore hepatic activity; however, melatonin showed significant reduction in ALT activity and bilirubin level than saline post-treatment. Additionally, histological evaluation revealed improvement of liver damage in this respect. The presented data indicated that orally administered melatonin in pharmacological doses protects against CPZ-induced liver disease in rats